Tuesday, March 13
Catchy name for public info campaign
Apparently everyone except our state legislative body thinks predatory lending is a big issue. Though a measure to ban payday loans in Virginia was defeated in the General Assembly, a group headed by the Charlottesville-based Piedmont Housing Alliance and Freddie Mac today kicked off the “Don’t Borrow Trouble” campaign. They aim to educate people about the evils of 780 percent interest rates and will specifically help homeowners in Albemarle and surrounding counties.
Wednesday, March 14
Equine fears, calmed
Horse people in Albemarle County can resume life as usual now that a threat of equine herpes has been quelled. Sales and auctions of all horses were halted the first weekend in March and 10 farms in Loudoun and surrounding counties were quarantined. State veterinarian Richard Wilkes announced the all-clear via a press release, congratulating horse owners for their help containing the virus. No cases of equine herpes were reported in Albemarle County. The equine industry in Virginia is worth around $1 billion.
Thursday, March 15
Churches tackle affordable housing
Here’s to thinking it through: When pressed by religious leaders, County Supervisor Ken Boyd said the supes would study affordable housing issues.
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Dozens milled around in the lobby outside the packed Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center at Charlottesville High School tonight. IMPACT, a group of local church congregations, filled the 1,300-seat auditorium while Charlottesville’s City Council and the county Board of Supervisors lent their ears on affordable housing and transportation. IMPACT leaders lauded expanded bus routes and pushed for a city-county task force on affordable housing, The Daily Progress reports. Elected officials were asked to give “yes” or “no” answers to IMPACT’s goals—cautious points go to county supervisor Ken Boyd, who reportedly gave “must study” responses.
Friday, March 16
Higher ed accidents
Maintenance workers, the people who keep the college machine running, face greater dangers these days than in the 1980s, the Chronicle of Higher Education reports. Serious campus accidents have risen about 40 percent, while enforcement of occupational safety rules has declined. A study found the median fine for violations is $1,100, a slap on the wrist compared to huge university budgets. UVA’s director of environmental health and safety Ralph O. Allen says colleges have some work to do. The most common campus accidents were workers falling or being struck by objects—at least 29 people have died at colleges since 1996.
Saturday, March 17
Another famous face
The "West Wing" star (and sex scandal screw-up) Rob Lowe was born on St. Patrick’s Day in Charlottesville.
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Did you know actor Rob Lowe was born in Charlottesville, on this day in 1964? Oh, what juicy tidbits can be gleaned from being a devoted horoscope reader! Jeraldine Saunders in her Tribune Media Service horoscope wishes a “Happy Birthday” to the St. Elmo’s Fire star. No mention of the 1988 scandal in which tapes of Lowe having sex with an underage teen while in Atlanta attending the Democratic National Convention were exposed. That means there’s only two degrees of separation between our fair town and one of the world’s first uncovered celebrity sex tapes.
Sunday, March 18
Remaining Virginia teams knocked out
The UVA men’s basketball team lost to Tennessee 77-74 after a missed three-pointer that left Sean Singletary in tears. The Cavs missed the Sweet Sixteen in the last second of the second round of the NCAA tournament.
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The Cavaliers were ousted from the NCAA tournament today in a narrow loss to Tennessee. A barely missed three-pointer by Sean Singletary lost the Cavs an overtime opportunity, sealing the game at 77-74. The Cavaliers made it to the second round in the tournament, their first trip to the NCAA since 2001. And, despite a stellar comeback in the first round Friday against Illinois, the Hokies of Virginia Tech succumbed to Southern Illinois, which ranks third nationally in scoring defense. Final score was 63-48.
Monday, March 19
Fire near UVA
Three were hospitalized and two are in critical condition after a fire broke out on Lewis Mountain Road, The Daily Progress reports. A house converted into several apartments trapped a 25-year-old male and a 24-year-old female, who were passed out from smoke inhalation. Firefighters got them out through a window; the apartment had no smoke detector and it’s being investigated whether alcohol was a factor. This is not the first fire to ravage a UVA housing area this year. In February, three unrelated fires burned residences: one at 14th Street and Grady Avenue, one at Jack Jouett apartments on University Way and a third at the Chi Phi fraternity house. All this while Corner residential areas become even more densely populated—let’s hope those new high-rise condos have smoke detectors.